Mended Hearts Open Forum

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  • 1.  Descending Aortic Aneurysm

    Posted 09-23-2020 10:07
    Hello my name is  is Harry Murphy, I am 84, have COPD, pretty well  controlled. I have had a Descending Aortic Aneurysm for about 7 years and for the last 5 years it has stabilized at 4.5cm. Over the past 18 months it has grown to 5.5.CM and the Surgeon  at NY Presbyterian said this would be the opportune time to do TEVAR surgery but he did say because of my age and COPD and the fact that it is a Descending Aortic Aneurysm with no symptoms we could wait and do another CT Scan in 6 months. At the rate it has grown over the past 18 months the surgeon said he could pretty well guarantee that the aneurysm will have grown to 6.0 CM and then surgery will be mandatory. I live in Texas now because my money was invested in NYC Yellow Taxi Medallions. Between UBER - LYFT and COVID 19 I have lost close to 2 million so living in NYC was unaffordable. I have been an in and out patient of the Weill Cornell - NY Presbyterian System since 1999, it is ranked #4 in the USA in Cardio Surgery and I feel comfortable having the surgery at NYP. The Surgeon is rated as one of the best in the world.My lease in Texas expires  at the end of November, the next CT Scan is due at the end of January. I am working to have everything wrapped up in Texas and when the Surgery is completed I am moving to Greece to be with my former wife and remarry so she gets my SS & VA disability benefits. I realize I have other options for surgery such as Cleveland and Mayo. A cardiologist here in Texas offered me a referral to Mayo and I'm sure he would do the same for Cleveland.. I do not have any family left in NYC and my friends have all passed on. If anyone can answer the following questions, I will appreciate it very much.

    !) What is the pre op schedule i.e. after a CT scan , an Echo and a Pulmonary Function test, blood work , is that it, no other tests and we can do the surgery as scheduled?
    2) The surgeon said the hospital stay would be 5 to 6 days. How often would I have to return to check to see if the stent is in place and all is well? 
    3) Since I have no friends or relatives left in NYC, I do have 2 options (people I could stay with after surgery) but not thrilled about those options. How long before I could safely travel to Greece about a 10  hour trip.Is there a possibility that I could be sent to a rehab until recovery is complete or am I good to travel once the surgery is completed and I am released from the hospital?
    4) Should I consider doing the surgery at Cleveland or Mayo would that benefit me time wise i.e help me to get to Greece any sooner, if I can get out of my lease at the end of October rather than November.I ask due to lack of a comfortable place to stay in NYC. If I can be sent to a rehab in NYC I'll still pick NY Pres
    5) Greece is Broke, one of the poorest countries in the EU and COVID has wrecked Greeces main revenue source, Tourism. There has been a Doctor drain for years. Many doctors have left Greece and gone to the US, German, Switzerland etc.  Having lived in Greece n 2016 and part of 2017 I do have a great pulmonologist in Greece, there is a facility in the next town that does CT Scans, Echos, MRI's etc so there is a possibility that I could do the required annually or semiannually CT and send it the the USA which would save me a yearly trip from Greece to the USA.
    6. I know the January CT scan is just to see if there has been any other problems in the Aorta, even if it stabilized at 5.5 CM, the surgery must be done.
    Thank you all for taking the time to read my epistle and I will appreciate all input very much. 

    Sincerely,
    Harry Murphy


  • 2.  RE: Descending Aortic Aneurysm

    Posted 09-24-2020 09:08
    These are questions for professionals....

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    Donald Striegel
    Indianapolis IN
    (317) 786-8066
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